Method of sealing metallic closures for bottles



July 23, 1957' c. P. soRENsEN 'METHOTJIGF SEALING METALLIC CLOSURES FOR BOTTLES Filed May 4. 1953 2\ Sheets-Sheet l July 23, 1957 c. P. soRENsEN 2,800,569

METHOD OF SEALING METALLIC CLOSURES FOR BOTTLES Filed May 4, 1953 2 sheets-sheet 2 LAWN l' no voLT. Vv-k EP -le 55 RHEos'rAT )f IIO OLT PRIMARY swxfcH v :slaY t 3 /azgowmsmmw no v 22o v a WIRE ls MECH. GRouB 59 N 1 21 l5 i l v com'Ac'r cAPAcrroRs WELDING TIPS Y INVENToR.

United States Patent O METHOD F SEALING METALLIC CLSURES FOR BOTTLES Carl Paul Sorensen, Chicago, Ill., assigner of onedraif to Joseph B. Lindecker, Skokie, lil.

Application May 4, 1953, Serial No. 352,740

Claims. (Cl. 219-85) My invention relates preferably to metallic bottle closures and to the apparatus and method of sealing the same upon a bottle.

The method of my invention has a number of characteristics. Generally speaking, it consists in placing a metallic skirted closure over the mouth of the bottle and about the exterior bottle portions adjacent the bottle mouth, placing a metallic strand or metallic ring about the skirt of the metallic closure, contracting the ring into tight engagement with the metallic closure by relatively moving adjacent portions oppositely and circumferentially, placing a bond between said metal ring contacting portions that is inclusive of fusible metal that will fuse in response to heat, applying sufficient heat by the application of fusing currents of electricity to the region of said ring portions and bond to cause the fusible metal to fuse, and permitting the fusible metal to harden while the ring is contracted to hold said ring contacting portions in ring contracting relation. In the method, as preferably practiced, the metal ring is of such circumferential length that the adjacent portions thereof that are oppositely and circumferentially moved to contract the ring are brought into mutually side by side lapping relation so that they may be merely torn apart when the closure is to be removed to afford access to the bottle covered by the closure. The fusible metal is desirably provided directly upon these ring portions whereby the ring, itself, is inclusive of a constituent which will fuse in response to heat. The closures are formed of noncombustible material, such as metallic foil, or a lamination having foil on the outside thereof, and the mutually lapping portions of the metal rings are preferably tin andlead coated so as to be readily fused by heat.

In the preferred way of practicing the method of my invention, the necessary heat is furnished by an electric current of suitable volume and pressure, passed through a portion of the ring, the ring being preferably metallic, and also through the tin and lead coating thereon, this tin and lead coating constituting the preferred form of fusible cement that is adaptable to fuse in response to heat.

In previous methods of sealing bottles by electric current and a coated metallic wire, the closures were formed of combustible material, such as paper, or material which would not conduct electric current. Said methods in some localities are objectionable because of the need for sealing bottles with metal closures, and employing metallic coated wire and electricity to seal the wire about the closure. Said previous methods, for instance are shown in Letters Patents of the United States: No. 1,635,510; No. 1,635,515 and 2,011,142. Another objection to said previous methods has been the objectional types of electric switches used without suitable means to safe-guard the complemental contacts of the switch against the effect of sparking, as shown by Patent No. 1,958,685 of 1934.

The bottle about which the closure is placed is generally externally enlarged at its mouth. In the structure ice of my invention, the ring is placed around the closure and the external bead portions of the bottle mouth, or below said bead portions and about the closure skirt, and has mutually side by side lapping wire portions that are united by a fusible metal bond that holds these wire portions in ring contracting relation and permits these portions to be readily torn apart when the bottle is to be uncovered, at least one of the mutually lapping portions having an unattached end which may be grasped for this purpose. While this fusible metal cement seal is preferably applied or employed in accordance with the method of my invention, yet the structure of my invention is not to be limited to its production by my method nor is the method to be limited to the production of the structure of my invention. The ring is preferably formed of non-resilient metal wire so that it will not spring back into shape, in case of its enlargement by a tool in an effort to effect an unauthorized removal of the bottle closure. The external bead of the bottle mouth may be provided with an inwardly extending groove, or the enlarged external bead itself in the region of its mouth can be used to prevent the withdrawal of the ring over the bottle mouth, in case removal of the bottle closure is sought without breaking the cement bond.

The method and structure of my invention will be more fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle with a metallic closure assembled therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, where a laminated closure is employed;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a portion of the bottle in the zone of the ring, the mutually lapping portions of the ring being shown in section in order to illustrate the tin and lead coatings thereon;

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a circuit upon the mutually lapping portions of the ring so that it may be heated to fuse the bond for uniting the lapping ring portions;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a closure sealed upon a bottle where the bead portion of the bottle has an annular groove therein;

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an electric circuit and arrangement of mechanical parts whereby the fusible metal coating upon the mutually lapping portions of the ring may be heated to fuse the same for the purpose of uniting these mutually lapping ring portions while they are in ring contracting relation while in contact with a metallic closure.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an electric switch and an electric circuit connected therewith and showing specifically a front elevation of the switch with arms, cams, and contact points provided with spark quenching capacitors.

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating one use to which the invention may be put, the switch, the capacitors, the transformer, the rheostat and welding points being included with the diagram.

The bottle 1, illustrated, is one which is commonly employed for containing milk or cream. It has an external enlargement or surrounding bead 2 at the mouth of the bottle. A metallic closure 4, preferably aluminum, or a laminated closure having an inner layer of paper 3 and an outer layer of aluminum foil 5, is placed over the mouth of the bottle, this metallic closure 4 having a skirt 6 integral therewith which is encircled by a ring 7, preferably formed of non-resilient metal, this ring having mutually lapping circumferentially extending portions 8 and 9. A fusible metal bond 10 is disposed between said mutually lapping and circumferentially extending ring portions and serves to hold these portions in assembly, the bond being brought into its holding relation after the ring portions '8 and 9 have been drawn circumferentially and 1n opposite directions vwith suc'ient force to tightly hold the closure skirt against the neck or bead portion of the bottle.

The closure employed is preferably formed from metallic foil, and preformed to the shape of the closure disclosed m Patent No. 1,635,510, dated July 12, 1927. such an aluminum closure permits VAthe ring to be tightly placed into its skirt whereby the `closure may have effective and sealing engagement with the bottle bead or the neckportion thereof. The mutually lappingportions of the ring desirably terminatein free ends 8 and 9', 9 which may be grasped by the fingers of ones hand in order that the mutually lapping ring portions may be torn apart when the bottle closure is to be removed. One of the free end portions Sor 9', say the portion 9', is desirably suiciently long so that it may be grasped by the thumb and nger when the bond or seal is to be broken. The two ring portions are desirably so related that one portion,"say the portion S, isv above the other so that both may take part in gripping the closure without imposing undue strain upon the fusible metal bond 10 between the mutually lapping ring portions.

The wire of the'ring is tinned with lead, the tin and lead coating of the ring wire fusing under a degree of heat. The heat for fusing the tin and lead coating upon the mutually lapping portions of the ring may be furnished by a transformer of primary voltage suitable to imput volta age, preferably used with 110 volt, or 220 volt electric lines, the transformer in turn supplying suitable transformed Ysecondary current of low voltage through a rheostat to the welding tingers, the function and operation of which will be described later. The current from the transformer is desirably applied while the mutually lapping portions ofthe ring are tightly drawn circumferential*- ly of the bottle bead or the bottle neck and in opposite directions and to an extent suicient to contract the ring, as desired; When the current has caused the tin and lead coatings upon the mutually lapping portions of the ring to fuse, the circuit is opened and the tin and lead coating is allowed to harden while the ring is contracted, the lead thereafter holding the mutually lapping ring portions in contracting relation. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the terminals 12 and 13 of the electric circuit are preferably applied to the ring in a manner to include both mutually lapping ring portions directly therebetween. When the necessary fusing has been effected, the terminals 12 and 13 may be removed or the circuit may be opened by the cam operated switch 14, as desired.

The switch 14 illustrated clearly by Figure 8*, has an arm 15 which pivots at 16, between its ends. This'arin 15 bears, at one end, upon a cam 18, being pressed against the surface of the cam by a spring 19 which is anchored at one end upon an insulating mounting block v20 and is attached at its other end to a linger 21 that projects angularly from said arm 15. This cam 1S as illustrated is automatically turned by mechanical means, not shown. Said arm 15 is connected with an electric conductor 22. Said arm 15 is enlarged at its lower end and there carries a contact post 23, with a contacting surface 24 of highly refractory conducting material, such as tungsten. I provide a contact post 25 with surface 26 that is complemental to and engageable with said post -23 and surface 24. Said post 25 is mounted upon a leaf spring .27 connected with a metallic bracket 23, having an electric conductor 29 connected thereto. During each revolution of the cam 18, the switch arm 15 is brought into and out of circuit closing adjustment as will be apparent by an inspection of Figures 8 and 9. Whenever the circuit is closed the electric current is brought into and out of-cirfollow the circuit opening movement of the switch member arm 15 until it is individually arrested in this following movement by a stop 17. Arcing is prevented from occurring between the contacting point surfaces 24 and 26 by the installing of a pair of capacitors 30 and 31 connected in series and shunt connected across conductors 22 and 29; that is the capacitors are connected by one wire to the electric source or wire 22, and by a second wire to the conductor 29 which is connected to one terminal of the transformer 32. Said capacitors are preferably made to handle volts or 220 volts and constructed of metal plates or foil rolls as required. The capacitors absorb sparking at contact points 24 and 26 and keep the primary voltage at the same voltage and equal level as required to deliver equal current to the secondary of the transformer, thereby eliminating the adjusting of the heat control of timing switch which would be necessary'due to a drop of primary voltage due to an overload of additional machinery etc. on the same electric circuit. An electric capacitor is formed by two conductors or groups of conductors separated by a tape of insulating material which is called dielectric. -A capacitor of this type has the function to store up a great amount of electrical energy in an electrostatic form. A capacitor is usually made up of either metal plates or foil rolls and is connected in series, thereby absorbing the spark, or counterforce of the electric circuit and keeping the` current up to par at all times. A rheostat 35 is preferably connected in conjunction with the secondary outlet of the transformer 32 to obtain the desired voltage as required for different types of closures and different conditions. The welding tips 12 and 13 are provided, and the tip 12 is connected by a wire 3B to said 'rheostat 35 and tip 13 is connected by a wire 39 to the highest voltage tap of the secondary winding of the transformer 32. Said tip 13 and wire 39 are mechanically grounded by a No. y8 electric wire, designated here 'as 40, to the closure applying machine. It will be observed that the welding tip 12 connected in conjunction with the rheostat 35 will remain insulated while the other welding tip 13 in conjunction with the secondary outlet of the transformer is mechanically grounded, as clearly shown by Figures 6, 8 and 9.

Referring especially to Fig. 7, the bottle 1 is shown positioned upon a support 50 and centered by a centering device 41 having an insulation pad l2/positioned therebetween. The wire 7 is Wound upon a spool 43 supported byspool holder 44 which is machine grounded. Said wire 7 is guided by 'roller 45 so it'can be applied to the closure positioned upon said bottle. Roller 45 is grounded and works in conjunction with conventional means which turns one and one-half'times about'the closure as disclosed by Patent No. 1,635,515. The free end of the wire strand is vgripped by suitable jaws 46 and 47 which are also machine grounded. The wire is suitably applied to the closure skirt by the rotation of a wire nozzle, not shown. 'The wire is closely wrapped about the closure skirt so that there is provided a closure contracting ring having mutually lapping portions as described above, it being the mutually lapping portions that are bonded together by fusing the tin and lead coating that is on the wire and'allowing they tin and lead coating to hold said lapping portions in ring contracting relation. The free end of the wire extends beyond the seal so it may be grasped to tear the mutually lapping portions of the ring apart when accessis to be had to the bottle. The bond between the lapping portions is fused by heatand the beat is furnished by electric current supplied by operating means previously described herein. Mechanism not shown is provided for severing the wire from the continuous strand upon spool 43. After the wire is cut, the-seal is completed upon the bottle, the bottle can be removed from the sealing machine thus being the conclusion of the cycle of operations under description.

From the above it is clearly shown that the machine is completely grounded. The metallic closure upon the bottle is insulated from the bottle centering device by insulation means 42. Said insulating means 42 prevents electric welding current from making contact between the top of the metal closure and a machine ground. The wire 39 is connected with the secondary outlet of the transformer and is grounded by wire 40. The wire 38 is connected with the rheostat 35 and the other secondary outlet of the transformer, leaving said parts insulated from machine. Therefore, it is clearly seen that the current carried by the welding points 12 and 13 is not allowed to travel through the metallic closure to the metal parts of the bottle centering device because of insulation pad 42. The fusing current will travel from one welding point to the other only through the mutually lapping portions of the wire as the current always travels through and by the shortest path. In other words the current will travel from the transformer through the rheostat to the welding point 12, then through the mutually lapping portions of the wire 8 and 9 to the welding point 13 and through wires 39 and 40 to a mechanical ground.

It will be observed that the method of my invention is a material improvement upon the prior methods employed for contracting closures holding rings about the skirts of closures made of paper such as disclosed in Patent No. 1,635,510, dated July 12, 1927.

It will also be observed that the electric circuit embodies an improved switch in my novel invention and is a material improvement upon that disclosed in the above stated Patent No. 1,958,685. Novelty appears in many respects among which is the ease with which the ring of my present invention may be applied on a metallic closure by electrical means so that the closure held thereby may be removed easily from the bottle it covers.

I do not wish to be limited to the method and apparatus herein disclosed for producing the product. It is obvious that changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

l. Method of sealing a bottle which consists in placing a skirted closure of metallic electric current conductive material over the mouth of the bottle and about the bottle neck; placing about the electric current conductive closure skirt and bottle neck a ring consisting of electric current conductive wire coated with fusible metal; contracting the ring by relatively moving adjacent ring portions, oppositely and circumferentially; contacting said ad jacent overlapping ring portions with a pair of electric current conductive means; passing suflicient electric current from one of said conductive means connected to a suitable source of electric current to the second of said conductive means secured to a mechanical ground, said electric current traveling through said adjacent ring portions between said pair of conductive means and to said mechanical ground while said pair of conductive means is in contact with said ring portions, said current heating said overlapping portions and contracting portions of the ring to fuse the fusible metal coating thereof while in contact with said electric current conductive closure; and permitting the fused metal to harden while thering is contracted to hold said ring portions in ring-contracting relation.

2. Method of sealing a bottle which consists in placing a skirted closure of metallic electric current conductive material over the mouth of the bottle; placing about the closure skirt a ring consisting of electric current conductive wire coated with fusible metal; contracting the ring by relatively moving adjacent ring portions, oppositely and circumferentially; contacting said adjacent overlapping ring portions with a pair of electric current conductive means; passing suicient electric current from one of said conductive means connected to a suitable source of elec- .tric current to the second of said conductive means secured to a mechanical ground, said electric current travel` ing through said adjacent ring portions between said pair of conductive means and to said mechanical ground while said pair of conductive means is in contact with said ring portions, said current heating said overlapping portions and contracting portions of the ring to fuse the fusible metal coating thereof while in contact with the electric current conductive closure; and permitting the fused metal to harden while the ring is contracted to hold said ring portions in ring-contracting relation.

3. Method of sealing a bottle which consists in placing a skirted aluminum electric current conductive closure over the mouth of the bottle and about the bottle neck; placing about the electric current conductive closure skirt and bottle neck a ring consisting of electric current conductive wire coated with fusible metal; contracting the ring by relatively moving adjacent ring portions, oppositely and circumferentially; contacting said adjacent overlapping ring portions with a pair of electric current conductive means; passing sufficient electric current from one of said conductive means connected to a suitable source of electric current to the second of said conductive means secured to a mechanical ground, said electric current traveling through said adjacent ring portions between said pair of conductive means and to said mechanical ground while said pair of conductive means is in contact with said ring portions, said current heating said overlapping portions and contracting portions of the ring to fuse the fusible metal coating thereof; and permitting the fused metal to harden while the ring is contracted to hold said ring portions in ring-contracting relation.

4. Method of sealing a bottle which consists in placing a skirted aluminum electric current conductive closure over the mouth of the bottle; placing about the electric current conductive skirt a ring consisting of electric current conductive wire coated with fusible metal; contracting the ring by relatively moving adjacent ring portions, oppositely and circumferentially; contacting said adjacent ring portions with a pair of electric current conductive means; passing suiiicient electric current from one of said conductive means connected to a suitable source of electric current to the second of said conductive means secured to a mechanical ground, said electric current traveling through said adjacent ring portions between said pair of conductive means and to said mechanical ground while said pair of conductive means is in contact with said ring portions, said current heating the overlapping portions and contracting portions of the ring to fuse the fusible metal coating thereof while in Contact with said aluminum closure; stopping the flow of current between said welding points and permitting the fused metal to harden while the ring is contracted to hold said ring portions in ring-contracting relation.

5. Method of sealing a bottle which consists in placing a laminated skirted closure embodying an outer layer of metallic electric current conductive material over the mouth of the bottle and about the bottle neck; placing about the closure skirt and bottle neck a ring consisting of electric current conductive wire coated with fusible metal; contracting the ring by relatively moving adjacent ring portions, oppositely and circumferentially; contacting said adjacent ring portions with a pair of electric current welding points; passing sufficient electric current from one of said welding points connected to a suitable source of electric current to the second of said welding points secured to a mechanical ground, said electric current traveling through said adjacent ring portions between said pair of welding points and to said mechanical ground while said pair of welding points is in contact with said ring portions, said current heating the overlapping portions and contracting portions of the ring to fuse the fusible metal coating thereof while said ring is in direct contact with the outer layer of metallic electric conductive closure material; stopping the flow of current between said-points; and `permitting,the,; fused. meta13 to harden fwhile Athe ring` is` contracted. to vhold ,.said ,ring portionsin ring-contracting.,relation.;

6.Method of sealing, a bottle witha laminatedfplosure, comprisingan, outer layer of metallicelectric, current.

conductive material, `which ,consists ,in'tplacing theclosure over-thelmouth 'of thebottle. andv aboutthefbottle. porf-v tions Aadjacentto said. mouth; placing, about the, outer` 1ay,er of said metallicelectric currentconductive material,

of said closure a ring consisting ofelectric-current, con-,- ductive wire .coated `,with fusible material;,contractingthe ring byrelative ly,movingt-vadjacent, ringv-lportions, op-

positely and.tcircurnferentially; contacting saidadjacent ring, portionsgwitha pair vof electric. current Ywelding points; passing sufficient.electric current fromL 'one of said weldf,

ing points connected to.asuit a ble source ofelectric current .tothessecondcf said weldingpoints secured to a mechanical ground; said; electric current traveling. through saidadiacentringportions betwe en said. pair of welding 7. Method of sealing a bottle Whichconsistsin placing a laminated skirtedclosure embodying anouter layer of metalliczelectric. current conductive materialA over the mouth of the bottle; placing aboutthe closure skirt a ring consisting `of/ electric currentconductive wire coated with fusible metalgcontracting the ring by yrelatively moving adjacent ring portions, oppositely and circumferentially; contactingsaid adjacent ringportions ywith a lpair of electric .currcntwelding points; .passing suflicient electric current from, one ofsaid welding points. connectedto a suitable source o-f electric` currentto the second yof said Weldingv points secured tov a mechanical ground; said electric current traveling throughsaid adjacent ring portions between said pair of welding points and to said mechanicalgroundwhile said pair of weldingpoints is in contact with said ring portions; said current heating the overlapping. portions and contracting portions of the ring,which,is=the shortestdistance for the currents of electricity to travel, thereby fusing the fusible metal coating thereof; stopping the flowzof electric current between said po'mts; and lpermitting thetfused metal to harden while the ring -isncontracted to hold said .ring portions in ring-contracting relation.

8. Method of sealing a bottle which consists in placing a laminated skirted closureembodying an outer layer of electric current conductive aluminum over the mouth of the bottle; placing about the closure skirt a ring consisting of electric current conductive. wire coated with fusible metal; lcontracting the ring by relatively moving adjacentv ring portions, oppositely and circumferentially; contacting said adjacent ring portions with a pair of electric currentV welding points; passing suicient electric current from one of said welding points connected yto a suitable source of electric current tothe second ofsaid weldingpoints secured to a mechanicalground;v said electric current travelingthrough said adjacent ringportionsfbetween said pair of welding points and to. saidfmechanical ground while said pairof welding pointsistin contactwith said ring portions; saidcurrent heating, thefoverlappingportions and contracting portions of the ring `to fuse the fusiblermetalcoating thereof while thering is in direct contact with said outer layer of aluminum, of said closure;.

andpermitting the ,fused ,;meta l, to harden while the Yring is -contra c ted to ho1 d said ring portions in ring-,contracting relation 9.. Methodfofsealing a .bottle which consistsinlplacing, a 4skirted. closure v,of ,electric current,conductive. metalliQy materialA over- -the mouth ofA thebottle and about the ex, ternal, bead portion ,of. the bottle, mouth; placingabout.

ther closure sk irtandsaidbead portion .of therbottle mouth a ring consisting of electric, current conductive wire coated 1 with fusible metal; contracting., the, ,ring `by relatively; moving adjacent ring portions, oppositely and` ,circumferentially; contactingsaid adjacent ring portons with a pair ofjelectric current welding points; passing suf` ficient electric current from one of said welding points connected to a suitable source of electric' current to the second of said welding points secured toa mechanical ground; said electric current traveling through said ad' jacent ring portions between said pair of welding. points and to said mechanicalground while said pairof welding points is in contact with said ring portions; said current heating the overlapping portions and contracting portions. of the ring, which Ais the shortest distance for the current to travel, to fuse the fusible metal coating thereof; stopping theflow of electric current between the points; and

permittinggthe fused metal to-hardenwhile the ringy is;

contracted to hold said `ring portionsV in ring-contracting relation.

10. Method of sealingl a bottle' which consistsA in placingl a skirtedy closure of electric current-conductive aluminum materia1 over 'the mouth ofthe bottle and about'v the external bead portion of thel bottle mouthyplacing by suitable mechanisma Aring about the closure skirt and--I said bead portion ofthe bottleA mouth, said-ring consisting of electriccurrent-conductive `wire coated with -fusible i metal; contracting-bysuitably grounded mechanical meansthe relativelyfmovingadjacent portions of lsaid ring, op positely and circumferentially;l insulating portions of the metallic skirted closure from said mechanical means; con-V tacting. said vadjacent ring portions witha pair of electric current welding points; passing sutlicient electric current'- the shortestdistance for said current to travel sinceV the closure is insulated-ffrom, a mechanical ground; stopping the flow of electric current'between said p0ints;,and permitting the fused metal to harden while the ring is con,- tracted to hold -said ring portions in ring-contracting relation.

References Cited in the file of thislpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,502 Tevander et al. Ian. 25, 1910 1,138,154 Stanley May 4, 1915 1,428,262 Schrader Sept. 5, 1922 1,635,510 Tevander July 12, 1927' 1,635,511 Tevander July 12, 1927 1,635,515 l Tevander July 12,' 1927 1,955,520A Vawter Apr. 17, 1934 2,011,142 Brinton Aug; 13, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 420,100 Great Britain- Nov. 22,1934 

